G.O.A.T. Rodeo, from l. to r.: Demi Puente (guitar), Adam Newman (bass), Stacy Puente (lead vocals, keys, guitar), Tom Toles (vocals, percussion), Audrey Jean (vocals, keys, violin), Reid Muoio (drums) and Jon Shapiro (lead guitar)
They are attorneys at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by day, rock stars by night. And next Thursday night, Sept. 13, their band, G.O.AT. Rodeo, will be competing in a battle of the bands—of rock n’ rolling legal professionals.
If G.O.A.T. Rodeo wins the fourth annual Law Rocks competition, the winnings will go to the Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund. The band has already raised more than $1,300 for the charity that is devoted exclusively to helping federal employees and their families through emergency assistance and scholarships.
“We selected FEEA as our charity because we care about our fellow federal employees, and FEEA's mission seems more important now than ever,” said Stacy Puente, a SEC Attorney Advisor and Chapter 293 member.
Puente sings lead vocals and plays keyboard in the band with fellow NTEU member and SEC attorney advisor Jon Shapiro, the lead guitarist. Rounding out the band are legal professionals from Bloomberg BNA, as well as Washington Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles, who designed the band’s logo.
G.O.A.T. Rodeo describes its stylings as “a goat-tastic extravaganza of rock and roll soundsations!”
For all the fun G.O.A.T. Rodeo and audiences will have next Thursday, Puente and the band are serious in their commitment to helping federal employees in these challenging times.
“Feds have been under a significant amount of strain for the last several years, with hiring freezes, pay freezes and the continued threat of a government shutdown,” said Puente. “We have been vilified, our work on behalf of the agencies we serve has been denigrated, leaving many of us demoralized. In playing to benefit FEEA, we want our fellow feds to know that they are respected, valued and that we stand in solidarity with them.”
G.O.A.T. Rodeo will play Thursday, Sept. 13 at the 9:30 Club (815 V Street N.W., Washington, D.C.). Doors open at 7 p.m., with V.I.P. tickets available for an early entrance at 6 p.m. To buy tickets or make a donation to support FEEA on behalf of G.O.A.T Rodeo, visit https://lawrocks.org/wdc/#tickets.